Preparing Pets for the Unpredictable

Recently there has been an outbreak of wild weather across the country. Tornadoes, flooding and even wildfires have devastated parts of the country. Preparing your family and your pets to evacuate or take shelter against the unpredictable weather requires initial planning.

In the event of an evacuation or threat of a natural disaster, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you have you dog’s leash or your cat’s litter box. Below is a checklist of emergency items to include in your Pet Evacuation Kit.

— All pets should wear an identification tag and collar
— At least one week’s supply of food in water-tight container
— At least one week’s supply of water
— Leash and harness for dogs and cats
— Appropriate size pet carrier for dogs and cats
— Make sure vaccinations are up to date
— Copies of updated vaccination certificates (required by shelters)
— Pet medications (including heartworm / flea prevention)
— Litter box, litter for cats
— Updated photos of your pet in case they get lost
— Your pet’s favorite toy to help calm nerves

I also recommend identifying evacuation sites and researching pet accommodations. Make calls now to check on the boarding policies of the local kennels, animal shelters or hotels and ensure you add any of these requirements to your Pet Evacuation Kit. Planning an evacuation route your your family and pets is crucial, checking with local shelters to see if they accept pets is vital.

Many lessons were learned from recent storm tragedies such as the earthquakes and Tsunami that devastated Japan. All too often, the victims of natural disasters encounter evacuation shelters that do not allow pets. As a result, some pet owners will refuse to evacuate without their pets. Being prepared will prevent you from having to make the heart-wrenching decision to do the unthinkable and abandon your beloved pets.

As part of PurinaCare’s mission to provide a lifetime of care for your pets, we believe creating a Pet Evacuation Kit now can relieve some of the unbelievable stress that comes when faced with an evacuation. Planning ahead, preparing an evacuation kit and checking the policies at shelters, kennels and hotels are the only ways to insure your pet’s safety – your animals are depending on you.